Judging Comments

Today is my day to spend at The Fair. That's The Washington State Fair (also known as the Puyallup Fair). I'll be one of the judges judging the quilts. I thought I would share with you what I will be looking for.
                           
GENERAL APPEARANCE
 FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE:  
Excellent visual impact
Stood up well against stiff competition
Edges flat
Colors and fabrics well chosen for quilts style
Innovative use of color
Innovative use of pattern
Well balanced design

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Color impact could be improved
Good effort
Bearding is apparent
Loose threads should be cut (threads shadow)
Remove basting threads and/or pencil marks
Edges wobble or ripple
 
PIECING
FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE:   
Piecing well done
Points match
Block size is uniform
Straight lines are straight
Curved seams are smooth

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Piecing needs improvement
Corners and points should meet precisely
Block size should be uniform
Straight lines should be straight
Shadowing-through detracts
Stitches should be secure
Piecing thread should not show
 
APPLIQUÉ
 FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE:   
Appliqué well done
Design well centered on block
Curves are smooth
Points are sharp
Stitches are even
Stitches are unobtrusive

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Appliqué needs improvement
Design should be centered on block
Curves should be smooth
Points should be sharp
Stitches should be even
Stitches should be unobtrusive
Background shadows through

 BORDER
 FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE:    
Border well done
Border compliment’s central design
Corner miters well done

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Border techniques need improvement
Border should compliment central design
Corner miters should be done carefully
Borders should be straight
Sashing inconsistent (not aligned)

 BINDING
 FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE:    
Binding well done

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Binding techniques need improvement
Batting should fill binding completely
Corners should be stitched closed
Width of binding should be consistent
Fabric bias more appropriate than commercial bias

QUILTING
FEATURES OF THIS QUILT ARE: 
Quilting well done
Stitches are even
Stitches on back are even
Straight quilting lines are straight
Curves quilting lines are smooth
Quilting pattern appropriate

AREAS WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT:
Quilting techniques need improvement
Density of quilting should be consistent over surface
Stitches should be of even length
Stitches should go all the way through
Beginning and ending of quilting threads should be invisible
Quilting design should enhance design
In the ditch quilting should stay in the ditch
Tension on quilting stitch should be even